Tesla fans are excited about the new Semi Truck and the incredibly fast Roadster. The EV maker announced these vehicles last week, but it also quietly introduced a new powerbank that did not get any stage time during the unveiling event. The new Tesla Powerbank can charge iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and other devices that take a microUSB.
All you need to know about the Tesla Powerbank
The 3,350mAh Tesla Powerbank costs $45. The California company said it is modeled after its Supercharger monument at the Tesla Design Studio. Tesla fans will quickly recognize that it adheres to the EV maker’s design philosophy. The powerbank comes with microUSB, USB, and Apple’s Lightning connections. It means the iPhone and iPad users will not have to carry a Lightning-to-USB cable to charge their devices.
The Tesla Powerbank measures 108 x 30.5 x 23.3mm. Tesla says it has a single 18,650 cell with 3,350mAh capacity. It’s the same cell that is used in the Model S and Model X electric vehicles. Of course, the cars pack about 7,000 of these cells rather than just one, to offer a long range. Tesla also sells a desktop Supercharger that costs $45 and features a USB port.
Tesla Powerbank’s $45 price tag is much higher than other similar powerbanks. But Tesla fans would be interested in it because of its design. There are many other powerbanks with similar specs that cost a lot lower. It may seem a bit weird that an electric vehicle maker like Tesla is selling powerbanks for Android and iOS smartphones. But the company also has a multi-billion dollar Gigafactory to make batteries.
The Elon Musk-led company also offers Powerwall energy storage solutions for homes and businesses. The Powerwall systems come in 7kWh and 10kWh options. They can be charged using solar energy or the power from the grid when energy rates are low. The Powerwall units serve as battery backups for home and small businesses.
Tesla claims its Semi Truck is better than diesel trucks
Tesla says its brand-new Semi Truck has a better cost per mile ratio compared to diesel trucks, besides tons of other benefits. It can go from 0-60mph in just 20 seconds when carrying 80,000 pounds of cargo. It offers a range of 500 miles with maximum load. By comparison, diesel trucks go up to 1,000 miles on a single tank of fuel. The Semi Truck includes four motors that provide maximum power while requiring the lowest energy cost per mile.
Tesla is expected to start production sometime in 2019. But the company has consistently missed deadlines on its products, so we wouldn’t be surprised if its production gets pushed back to 2020 or 2021. Anyway, Tesla has started accepting reservations. Retail giant Wal-Mart has already pre-ordered 15 Semi Trucks. You can reserve your Semi by paying $5,000.
Tesla Roadster to cost $200,000
The Roadster was a surprise announcement. Elon Musk described it as a “hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars.” The Roadster is the world’s fastest production car. Musk claims it goes from 0-60mph in just 1.9 seconds. This acceleration is only for the prototype version. The final production units could hit the 60mph even faster. By comparison, the Porsche 918 Spyder goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.2 seconds.
The Roadster’s design and technology is similar to the Model S. It features three motors. Two motors are located on the rear while the third one is positioned on the front. It gives the car an all-wheel drive capability. Elon Musk told media that the Roadster would offer a range of 630 miles, which is roughly 50% more than the Model S’s 424 miles.
The Roadster will have a starting price of $200,000, making it the most expensive car from Tesla. However, consumers will have to wait for a few years before Tesla starts producing the Roadster. It will appeal to the sports car fans. The vehicle is expected to become available in 2020.
